Mobile valet

ABSTRACT

A system provides location-based services through an enhanced mobile device. The system determines a current location of the mobile device, and determines whether the current location of the mobile device falls within one or more geographic regions defined in a database. If the current location falls within one or more of the geographic regions, the system identifies services available within the one or more geographic regions that the mobile device is determined to be within. The system generates a customized menu based on the identified services and displays the customized menu on the mobile device.

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/250,517, filed Oct. 14, 2005, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/101,240, filed Mar. 19, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No.6,957,393, which claims benefit of U.S. provisional application No.60/277,347 filed Mar. 19, 2001, and U.S. provisional application No.60/281,038 filed Apr. 2, 2001, all of which are incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to applications for wirelessdevices. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods andsystems for enriching services provided in cooperation with wirelessmobile devices

Increases in information processing capability and decreases in the costof computing have led to the proliferation of mobile devices in allaspects of society. Mobile devices, such as personal digital assistants,cellular phones, and laptops, are utilized in schools, homes and inbusiness. Furthermore, with the decreased costs of mobile devices, ithas become more feasible from a cost perspective to use mobile devicesfor tasks, and to carry out functions, which were previously donewithout the use of mobile devices.

Already, there are almost 400 million mobile phone users, with thenumber projected to reach over one billion by 2005. Globally, 240million people are predicted to use their phones for wireless dataexchange by the end of 2004—up from 26 million in 1999.

Even with these astounding numbers, however, there is one inescapablefact: by far, the worst display screen in the room is likely to be theone on a mobile phone or personal digital assistant. Mobile devices havesmall display screens, limited sound amplification, and, presently,limited connectivity or bandwidth. Delivering more information, inhigher fidelity, using these tiny displays, will be difficult at best.

This is not to say that industry has not attempted to improve consumers'usage of these mobile devices. For example, there are new ways in whichtechnologies such as PDAs, wireless communications, GPS, and onboardcomputers can be used to provide new services centered around theautomobile in support of the tasks that drivers typically engage in.Mobile technology may also be used in support of physical shopping toaugment the physical shopping experience of a shopper in a mall. Forexample, using a PDA equipped with a global positioning system (GPS)receiver, one application maintains a profile of the shopper along witha current shopping list, and after establishing the current location ofthe shopper, presents relevant offers from retailers proximate to theshopper, which is described by A. Fano in U.S. Pat. No. 6,317,718, filedFeb. 26, 1999, which is incorporated herein by reference. It has alsobeen suggested that barcode scanner equipped PDAs could be used toperform live price comparisons within a bookstore.

Nevertheless, these uses of PDA's still are limited to providingservices to the user through the PDA display. What is needed is a methodand system that can deliver context-based enhanced services to a userthat go beyond the limitations of the display on the mobile device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A system provides location-based services through an enhanced mobiledevice. The system determines a current location of the mobile device,and determines whether the current location of the mobile device fallswithin one or more geographic regions defined in a database. If thecurrent location falls within one or more of the geographic regions, thesystem identifies services available within the one or more geographicregions that the mobile device is determined to be within. The systemgenerates a customized menu based on the identified services anddisplays the customized menu on the mobile device.

These and other aspects and advantages of the invention will be apparentto one of ordinary skill in the art based on the following drawings anddetailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system utilizing the present invention,according to one preferred embodiment;

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a mobile valet device having a displayscreen, according to one preferred embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a system utilizing the present invention ina given geographical location, according to one preferred embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a mobile valet operation of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 5-11 is an illustration of user interfaces on a local displayscreen and the various content displayed within the local displayscreen, according to one preferred embodiment;

FIG. 12 is an illustration of a remote display screen, according to onepreferred embodiment; and

FIG. 13 is an illustration of a network system having a multitude ofnodes corresponding to service providers, an aggregation server,databases, mobile device users and service channels, according to apreferred embodiment.

For simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in theFigures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example,dimensions of some elements are exaggerated relative to each other.Further, when considered appropriate, reference numerals have beenrepeated among the Figures to indicate corresponding elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A first aspect of the present invention is directed to deliveringservices to a user of a mobile device through a plurality of servicechannels. These channels include the personal service channel on themobile device and one or more channels situated in the location of theuser. Preferably, services may be shifted between available servicechannels in proximity to the user.

A second aspect of the invention is directed to context-based userinterface templates on the mobile device that provides a common array ofservices available to the user depending on the context, such aslocation, task or function that may be based-in-part on environmentalcues. For example, when in a store, services related to the task ofshopping at that location are presented on the user interface.

A third aspect of the invention is directed to enabling the cooperationbetween remote service providers and location service providers toprovide through a plurality of service channels those services desirableto a user based on the services requested through the user's mobiledevice or based on the user's profile.

A fourth aspect of the invention is directed to managing the flow ofinformation from a plurality of remote service providers through aplurality of location service channels by aggregating the servicechannels for bulk transactions with the remote service providers.

A fifth aspect of the invention is directed to tracking the servicesprovided to a mobile device user at a first location and compensatingthe first location service provider for providing those services if theuser later completes a transaction at a second location when thetransaction was connected with the services provided at the firstlocation.

A sixth aspect of the invention is directed to a mobile device havingwireless connectivity, remote sensors, location pinpointing system, andcomputer-executable instructions for requesting services through aplurality of service channels.

These alternative aspects of the invention, and others, are described inmore detail below.

The present invention leverages wireless capabilities and the technologyinfrastructure of a location to create, among other things, a newlyempowered mobile tool, a “Mobile Valet” device, capable of deliveringthe most appropriate services for any given location, on the bestavailable channel. In the context of a shopping experience, thisinvention can catapult what has been termed “Mobile Commerce” to newlevels.

The true potential of Mobile Commerce is realized when one goes beyondwhat can be done just on a phone or Personal DigitalAssistant—delivering services by enabling and exploiting interactionbetween mobile devices and the world around us. Kiosks, displays, cars,appliances and other devices are rapidly acquiring wirelesscapabilities. Mobile devices may incorporate a variety of sensingcapabilities, including location, barcodes, sound, video and radiofrequency identification. One can point a Mobile Valet device to amyriad of objects with ID tags and receive supporting services.

In effect, the mobile device becomes a new user interface. Mobilecapabilities operating in concert with the resources of a location maydeliver far richer services, than the stripped down web pages deliveredto phones and PDAs today.

The present invention takes advantage of the cooperation of a mobiledevice to support location-specific tasks by exploiting three primarycapabilities:

First, the mobile device is a persistent, rich channel to an individual.That is, the device serves as a way to deliver services or informationto the individual. Customer services can deliver the right informationat the right time rather than broadcast random ads at uninterestedmasses.

Second, mobile devices serve as user context detectors. Mobile devicesnot only contain information about the owner such as personalinformation, schedule, task-specific data, but also sensors capable ofdetecting aspects of the user's environment. The system includesreal-time architecture that derives contextual cues from sensor data.Such sensors might detect features including position, sound, video,temperature, and location contents, among others. These “bottom-up”contextual cues combined with the “top-down” constraints offered by thelocation's task and the user's input can be used to determine theinformation to be presented to users and the modality or service channelthrough which it should be presented. Mobile devices may be equippedwith a variety of powerful sensors, such as geo-positioning systems toidentify location, biometrics to identify users, and tagging andtracking technologies to identify nearby objects, to name but a few.

Third, as mobile devices gain the ability to sense and interact with theobjects around them, they become interfaces for these devices. Themobile devices serve as a remote control to other devices in theenvironment. The “remote control” mobile device interface may bestructured primarily around the location and its task, rather than onspecific devices in the location.

By integrating these three capabilities, a new environment of highfidelity enriched services may be provided to users of mobile devicesany time, anywhere. The possibilities for enhancing the value of dailysocial and business interactions are endless. Likewise, the enhancedvalue provided by increased efficiencies, lower cost transactions andadded value to the users in their transactions may be extracted by thesuppliers of the services at the command of mobile device users.

As used herein, a location service provider is the provider of servicesat that location, such as a store, a bank, etc. The location serviceprovider may have a computer server in communication with a network tosend and receive data in cooperation with the mobile device. The servermay be at the location or remotely located. A remote service provider isthe provider of services from a location external to that location, andnot considered to be associated with that location. For example, at thelocation of a bank, the services provided by the bank would not beremote even if the bank's servers were not at that location. A servicenot associated with the location service provider that provides interestrates comparisons or product comparisons through the network to themobile device user through the service channels would be a remoteservice provider. A service channel, as used herein, is anything thatdelivers information, aid or assistance to the mobile device user andincludes the personal mobile service channel associated with the mobiledevice or location service channels situated at the location, such asdisplays, kiosks, printers, speakers, electronic signs and staff membersof the location service provider.

As noted above, a first alternative aspect of the invention is directedto delivering context-based services to a user of a mobile devicethrough a plurality of service channels. According to this aspect, amethod is provided that includes identifying the location of the user orestablishing the user's task, presenting a task template to the user,identifying channels proximate to the user, and then modulating theservices provided to the user according to the available channels.Preferably, the services may be shifted between the mobile device and alocal service channel without any interruption in the stage of theservice being provided, that is at the same point in the servicetransaction without having to restart the service transaction.

For example, one powerful real world application of the Mobile Valetoccurs in the purchasing process—particularly at the point of purchase.Here is an example of how it would work. Shopping for an inkjet printer,as a user enters a store, the Mobile Valet immediately identifies wherethe user is and the task at hand—purchasing a printer. The task may havebeen determined based on the user's profile, which may includeinformation from past use of the mobile device from which the user'sinterest in completing a certain task is determined from the context ofthe location. Alternatively, the task may be requested by the user froma general services template on the device that was appropriate to thelocation. The device directs the user to the printer section, where theuser simply points the Mobile Valet toward an interesting model tocollect a unique product identifier, such as from a bar code tag on aprinter. This is then used to request online services such asindependent product reviews, third-party financing options or videoinstallation instructions.

Instead of reviewing the personalized information only through the“mobile service channel,” i.e., tiny device screen, the user uses theMobile Valet to redirect the information to a more suitable servicechannel or display, such as a nearby video kiosk. Used in this way, theMobile Valet acts as a type of remote control, allowing the user toscroll through the various screens or fast forward to relevant sectionsof video. After a thorough product review, the user purchases theprinter that suits her needs and continues on her way. In effect, theyare likely to become “remote controls to the world.”

Combining these capabilities creates a newly empowered mobile device—onecapable of capitalizing on the both the vast resources available onlineand the technology infrastructure of a location, leveraging the bestfeatures of each. As the resources are vast, the mobile device may takeadvantage of using a dynamic discovery protocol for seeking out thoseservices that are presently available for the services requested. Theuser profile of the mobile device user and the present context of thedevice may be used to seek out in real time those remote serviceproviders who may provide the requested services when requested. Thelocation service channels to present those services may also influencethe selection of the service provider, as only the mobile device usermay have a preference for only those providers with high fidelitycontent that can deliver the enriched services available throughclose-by location service channel.

As noted above, a second alternative aspect of the invention is directedto context-based user interface templates on the mobile device thatprovides a common array of services available to the user depending onthe context, such as location, task or function that may bebased-in-part on environmental cues. The context may also be determinedby objects they are currently looking at, what they have recently lookedat, alternatives available locally, etc.—that is, information aboutwhere the users are and what they're doing at that moment. In otherwords, the present invention also relates to mobile device interfacesthat enable location-specific tasks.

According to this aspect, a method is provided for coordinating theenhanced delivery of services through a plurality of service channelsthat includes presenting to a user of a mobile device a plurality ofcontext-based user interface templates, wherein each context-based userinterface includes a selection of available services from a localservice provider at the location of the device, the services beingavailable at said location through the mobile device channel and one ormore location service channels.

This method includes associating general service templates and/orgeneral task templates with specific locations. The templates may evenbe specific to services associated with certain types of products, inthe case of tasks for shopping. In particular, general mobile devicescan be used in a situated context to provide access to the services andresources of a particular location, and, optionally, associated withcertain types of products at that location. By dynamically interactingwith the environment and the templates, the user and/or service providercan shift services between the mobile device and available local orlocation service channels. The local channels can be part of thetechnical infrastructure at the location (e.g., kiosks, monitors,speakers, etc.) and can also include the staff at the location.

Designing mobile applications to support such location-specific tasksrequires an interface that reflects the natural structure of taskstypically performed in various locations. While location-specific taskswill have some functionality that does not generalize, there are,nevertheless, aspects of tasks that do apply across domains that can beused as a starting point to design and structure interfaces. This ismuch like the “file” and “edit” menus we find on most general computersoftware applications.

While the particular functions a user can invoke necessarily vary fromapplication to application, there are certain general functions thatmake sense in virtually all applications. For example, in a PC computingcontext, such functions include many of the key features in the File andEdit menus, such as “new,” “open,” “close,” “save,” “print,” “cut,”“paste,” “delete,” etc. The analog of these “file” and “edit” menus forlocations is a common, intuitive interface to task functions likely tobe found across many locations. Common steps often include the need tofind the place, park, register, say what we want, buy admission, contactthe “host,” find any people with whom we will be collaborating on thetask at hand, check the readiness of the specific site where we willpursue our task, find that site, find and check the status of any toolswe will need, identify who can help us, find a place to buy coffee, dowork, and go to the bathroom while waiting for the task to begin,perform the task, cleanup, and get to the next task.

The mobile device is used in the roles described earlier—as a remotecontrol to invoke many of these environmental functions and services, asa rich channel to the user for delivering information about theseservices, and as a set of context sensors capable of detecting taskrelevant information necessary to support these services. The devicecollaborates with the physical location by doing things as simple asproviding a room name or phone number, to functioning as a remotecontrol for a net appliance.

The following are examples of the common interface needs: A visitorattending a meeting at an office, and a customer visiting a storeintending to select and purchase a camera. Briefly, in the meetingscenario, an out-of-town employee arrives in the office and deals withissues including registering, coordinating with colleagues, arrangingand finding a temporary desk, dealing with meeting services requests,finding and using office equipment (e.g., projectors, VCRs, printers),and arranging transportation to leave. Briefly, the store scenarioinvolves a customer interested in a digital camera arriving at thestore, finding the appropriate part of the store, finding the rightsalesman, getting directions on how to try and use particular models ondisplay, getting third party customer service advice on cameraselections, being presented with alternative vendors, third partyfinancing, and third party insurance options, determining compatibilitywith other equipment. While the two scenarios are clearly different,they share the need to find locations, use local equipment, invokesupporting services, find people, and get help with local resources.

In both of these scenarios, the mobile device preferably interacts witha local server at the location running a “task host” application that isaware of the task to be performed, the resources of the location, andthe user. The offices and stores are equipped with active badge sensorsand various tagging and locating devices to detect the presence ofpeople in any office or conference room and monitor the whereabouts ofpeople and objects throughout the workplace or store. The task hostapplication exploits the information from these tools and, in part, maymake use of earlier awareness systems built on this infrastructure, suchas described by McCarthy & Meidel, ActiveMap: A Visualization Tool forLocation Awareness to Support Informal Interactions, First InternationalSymposium on Handheld and Ubiquitous Computing (HUC '99), Karlsruhe,Germany.

Alternatively, the task host application may be running on a remoteserver in communication with the mobile device, or the application maybe running on the mobile device. Thus, the user interfaces maypreferably be resident on the server and downloaded to the mobile deviceas needed, or be resident on the mobile device.

The interface for the mobile application is designed around the stagesof generic location-based tasks. Within each stage, the core objects,locations, and people, we work with, and the actions we need to performare identified and enabled. At each task stage, there is typically afocus object (e.g., the presentation we intend to give at a meeting orthe person we are going to see/the camera under consideration), and asmall number of supporting objects, (e.g., overhead projectors,printers, VCRs, executive assistants, AV specialist/other cameras underconsideration, accessories, salesmen, customer service reps). Thesesupporting objects play predictable supporting roles (i.e., they providean alternative or an enabling service).

The actions a user wants to perform tend to be functions of the focusobject and its type. Thus, a core set of actions is included as afunction of the focus object type. For example, if the focus object is aperson, a user will frequently want to contact them, invoke their role,send them something, pay them, or query them. If the focus object is alocation the user will want to go there, see the current status andcontents, reserve it, prepare it, release it. For physical objects, theuser may want to buy, configure, send, examine, return, invoke, orrelease them. For a service or event, the user may want to register,reschedule, cancel, upgrade/downgrade, repeat, undo, start, stop, andcontinue.

More generally, the user may wish to access context sensitive help, themost recent task pursued by the user at this location (so that, forexample, the user can request the same arrangements as last time), andany changes and exceptions to the routine since the user's last visit tothis location. For example, is someone the user normally deals with nolonger working here? Are there any new facilities or offerings? And whatexceptions to the norm are in effect. Is the store or office closingearly? Is someone absent? Is a certain dish not on the menu?

Preferably, due to limited bandwidth and display size, not all “menuoptions” are shown at once. The selection is made on the basis of theparticular task stage and the services available to support a givenfocus object. Moreover, not all information is intended to be receivedby the user through the device. Instead, other service channels ordisplays available in the environment are used, but controlled throughthe mobile device. Once again, the intent is not for the mobile deviceto become the predominant tool to perform all functions everywhere butrather to use such devices, with the appropriate interfaces, tocomplement the facilities and services at a location and ease the waythe user pursues tasks.

As noted above, a third alternative aspect of the invention is directedto enabling the cooperation between remote service providers andlocation service providers to provide through a plurality of servicechannels those services desirable to a user based on the servicesrequested through the user's mobile device or based on the user'sprofile.

According to this aspect, a method is provided that includes identifyingservices requested by a mobile device user, determining the localservice channels available to present said service, accessing the user'sprofile available to a remote service provider, and then based on theprofile, determining additional services useful to the user, and sendinga request to the local service provider to provide the additionalservices.

This method may enable the collaboration between remote serviceproviders and the personnel at a location—both in terms of facilitatingthe delivery of a coherent service as well as the business models aroundit, such as remote service providers paying to use one of the channels.At an appropriate time during a user's interaction with the system, thestaff personnel could be alerted to show the user information orinstructions or accessories associated with the product or task at hand.Likewise, the remote service provider may alert the staff to a user'sinterest in a product, and suggest the staff person bring to theattention of the user a particular brand or product that would satisfyor compliment the user's present interest.

For example, a user may have a preferred vendor of content thatmaintains its own profile of the user. The remote service provider mayprompt the location service provider to provide ancillary services tothe user without the user having to make a specific request. The usermay pre-select printers of interest with the remote service provider.Upon entering a store, the user's mobile device identifies the location,presents a general service template, and notifies the remote serviceprovider of the user's location. In response, the remote serviceprovider presents information of predetermined interest to the user andautomatically prompts the store to provide a salesperson withinformation or products of interest to the user, such as a productdemonstration.

In the collaboration between remote service providers and local serviceproviders, the following scenario is also possible. A person arrives inthe printer department of an electronic store. His mobile device senseshis location and displays a small list of service categories appropriatefor the printer department. The categories are not unlike the speed dialbuttons on a telephone in a hotel, where each button is for a servicemost likely to be used in the hotel. In an electronic store, theseservices may include customer service, information, financing,warranties, and directions. The mobile device dynamically discovers theservices available for each of these categories. Some will be servicesprovided locally by the store, and others are from remote serviceproviders with whom the customer may optionally have a pre-existingrelationship.

In this scenario, the customer chooses a product comparison service andselects the printers to be compared using his mobile device. The mobiledevice is pointed at the printer and through an infrared port andkeystrokes by the user, the identification of the printers are providedto the mobile device. The remote service provider presents a comparisonof the printers on the display of the mobile device. While thiscomparison is about as much information as can fit on the display of themobile device, it is not sufficient for the user. The user moves near akiosk display in the store. With a push of a button on the mobiledevice, the product comparison service is redirected from the mobiledevice to the kiosk display, where the same service can be delivered infar greater fidelity and detail.

The user continues using his mobile device as an input device to provideinput to the remote service provider. The user may use the mobile deviceto select additional services. The user may point the mobile device toprinters for which he wants more information or to add to the productcomparison. These services are delivered to the kiosk display. Afterhoning in on a printer of greatest interest to the user, the remoteservice provider sends a signal to the local service provider, notingthat the user is interested in purchasing that particular printer andwould require ancillary service. The local service provider transmitsinstructions to another mobile device carried by a staff member of thelocal service provider. The staff member reads the instructions, selectsthe correct ink cartridges and cables needed for the printer anddelivers them to the user. The staff member may access pieces ofinformation from the user's profile with the local service provider thatmay include things such as past purchases of the user and credit cardinformation of the user. The staff member confirms the user's interestin the printer and the accessories and then inputs information into thesecond mobile device to automatically complete the transaction and debitthe user's credit card. Also, the local service provider automaticallysends instructions for a printer to be delivered to the merchandisepick-up desk.

Another example that builds upon the last, illustrates the versatilityof the Mobile Valet. While in the store shopping for the printer, themobile device may alert the user to an upcoming tennis game stored inthe user's calendar application, the alert coming according to areminder set by the user. Depending on the user's preferences stored inthe user's profile, a user interface may appear with specific featuresfor a task of making a reservation of a tennis court on-line. The usermay approach a location service channel, and for a fee, take precedenceover another user to make the service channel available for making thetennis reservation.

Another example taking advantage of some of the features of theinvention as noted above includes the use of the mobile device by amaintenance technician while repairing on a piece of equipment on afactory floor. The mobile device may provide access to the remote serverof the manufacturer of the equipment and provide relevant services andinformation to the technician. Likewise, the mobile device may sense RFtags on the equipment that identify the equipments configuration, or themobile device may scan bar codes on the equipment that identify theequipment configuration. That information is transmitted to a serverthat determines the technician's context and location, and by accessinginformation in the technician's user profile, the mobile device displaysa user interface appropriate for the likely tasks the technician isinvolved in based on his technical specialty and the equipment details.Further interaction with the user interface may connect the technicianwith a different remote service provider. The technician may be able torequest services from one of several specialty service providers, andusing available service channels in the vicinity of the equipment, haveaccess to “face-to-face” consultations with experts of his choice, orthe lowest price expert available.

As noted above, a fourth alternative aspect of the invention is directedto managing the flow of information from a plurality of remote serviceproviders to a plurality of location service channels by aggregating theservice channels for bulk transactions with the remote serviceproviders. According to this aspect, a method is provided foridentifying a number of locations and one or more location servicechannels at each location capable of providing services to mobile deviceusers, aggregating a plurality of the location service channels, makingavailable at least one of the aggregated location service channels to aremote service provider; and presenting services from the remote serviceprovider to the at least one location service channel. Preferably, themethod includes registering the location service channels and accessinga preference profile for the use of the service channels established bythe location service provider of the channels.

In another embodiment of this aspect of the invention involving theaggregation of location service channels, a communication network isprovided that includes a mobile user node in communication with saidnetwork and capable of sending requests for services on said network, aplurality of location server channel nodes in communication with thenetwork, the channel nodes capable of displaying services requested bythe mobile user node, an aggregator server node in communication withthe network, the aggregator server node managing the availability of thelocation server nodes to display service requested by the mobile usernodes. Preferably, the network includes a location server node coupledwith the location service channel nodes and establishing preferencerules for the availability of the location service channel nodes.Preferably, the network further comprises remote service providers incommunication with the aggregator node for delivering service to servicechannel nodes under the control of the aggregator server node.

In the context of enhancing the value to remote service providers,another aspect of the invention includes the aggregation of locationservice channels for bulk availability to remote service providers.Advertising customized to the particular interest of a user at alocation may be on the one hand delivered to that specific user, whileon the other hand being taken under the control of a channel aggregatorfor bulk resale to advertisers.

Likewise, an aggregator may have a separate server and manage the flowof information from a variety of alternative remote service providers torequests for generic services requested by a mobile device user. One ofthe advantages of using an aggregator in this environment is to reducethe cost of transactions between remote service providers and localservice providers over access to the location service channels. A remoteservice provider may negotiate with a single aggregator for access tonumerous service channels at numerous location service providers. Anaggregator can then negotiate with individual location service providersfor access to its service channel on behalf of a number of remoteservice providers, or with service brokers acting as agents for theremote service providers.

Under this scenario, when a request for remote services is sent by amobile device user at a specific location, the request is sent to anaggregator's server. The aggregator matches up the request for serviceswith an appropriate remote service provider based on a number of factorssuch as the mobile device user's profile, the types of location basedservice channels that are available at the time and at that location,the remote service provider's preferences for types of users it wantsaccess to, the types of service channels it wants access to and how muchthe remote service providers are willing to pay for that access. On theother hand, it may be the mobile device users who are paying for accessto the information or services of the remote service providers. In thiscase, the aggregator can match up the remote service provider who iswilling to provide services requested for the amount the mobile deviceuser is willing to pay. Also, the location service provider may requirea portion of those access fees for maintaining and supporting thetechnology infrastructure for the location service channels. Thisaggregator is well positioned to coordinate the requests and delivery ofservices between all of the actors in this system.

As noted above, a fifth alternative aspect of the invention is directedto tracking the services provided to a mobile device user at a firstlocation and compensating the first location service provider forproviding those services if the user later completes a transaction at asecond location when the transaction was connected with the servicesprovided at the first location.

According to this aspect, a method is provided that tracking requestsfor services from mobile device users at a location, tracking servicesprovided at said location by said location service provider to saiduser, tracking transactions later made by said mobile user at saidlocation and at other locations; and when said transactions areassociated with at least one of said services requested and servicesprovided, compensating the location service provider.

Local service providers may see enhanced value from a system in whichthey are compensated for providing services that later influence userstransactions, and thereby be encouraged to provide the infrastructure ofthe location service channels. The system can track the objects viewedby a mobile device user and to the extent that mobile device userobtains significant information from one local service provider yetwinds up buying that same product from a different local serviceprovider, the system can transfer a commission to the first localservice provider based on tracking of the participation of the firstservice provider in the developing interest and ultimate sale of theproduct to the mobile device user. The commission can be based on thingssuch as physical page views on the task template associated with theproduct that was purchased, or may be based on the identification of theproduct through the mobile device's sensors.

With the value added to users' transactions, there may naturally becompetition among remote service providers for access to the usersthrough the multiple local channels. Also, the local service providersmay also derive value by managing the use of the service channels at itslocation, which are a limited resource. For example, the local serviceproviders may be able to decide which customers have access to theservice channels and for how long. Loyal, long-term high-volumecustomers may be allowed greater access to the location servicechannels. Armed with the demographic customer base, the local serviceproviders can decide which remote service providers have access to thelocal service channels and for how long. For example, preferred vendorsor remote service providers with strategic alliances may havepreferential access to presenting content or services through thelocation service channels. The local service providers may decide whatinformation is displayed there, on what basis the service delivery hascommenced and terminated. With the efficiencies achieved by thisenhanced and enriched customized information or service delivery to themobile device users, the local service providers can tailor theoptimization of the use of these systems to enhance its value andultimately the revenue stream seen by the local service providers.

The presently preferred embodiments will now be described more fullyhereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which thepresently preferred embodiments are shown. This invention may beembodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limitedto the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments areprovided so that this disclosure is thorough and complete, andillustrates the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbersrefer to like elements throughout.

As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, the presentinvention includes several aspects that may be embodied as a method,data processing systems, computer programs, or physical products.Accordingly, the present invention may take the form of an entirelyhardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment or an embodimentcombining software and hardware aspects. Furthermore, the aspects of thepresent invention may take the form of a computer program product on acomputer-readable storage medium 30 having computer-readable programcode means embodied in the storage medium 30. Storage medium 30 includesany suitable storage medium that may be utilized including memory suchas read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory (RAM), dynamicrandom-access memory (DRAM), SDRAM, and EEPROM; magnetic media such ashard disk drives, and floppy disk drives; optical media such as CD-ROM,CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, and DVD-RW; magneto-optical media; andany other type of media which may be used to store digital information,such as a computer program.

As noted above, a sixth alternative aspect of the invention is directedto a mobile device having wireless connectivity, remote sensors,location pinpointing system, and computer-executable instructions forrequesting services through a plurality of service channels. In oneembodiment, the mobile device includes a service channel, sensors and acomputer-readable medium for storing computer executable instructionsthereon, wherein the instructions provide for the method of identifyingone or more location service channels associated with the locationthrough which services can be provided to the user; the sensors providefor remote identification of physical objects proximate to the mobiledevice; and the mobile device service channel includes a user interfacefor permitting the user to select a physical object detected by thesensors, to select tasks that may be accomplished at the location byutilizing one or more of the location service channels and the mobiledevice service channel, or to coordinate the delivery of servicesthrough one or more of the location service channels and the mobiledevice service channel.

FIG. 1 illustrates a data processing system on which a mobile valetdevice 20 may be utilized, according to one preferred embodiment. Thepresent invention is not limited to any particular hardware ortechnology described herein, or that can be configured to be a wirelessmobile device of the type known today, such as PDA's, cellular phones,text pagers, etc. The following description of a Mobile

Valet device is illustrative of some of the optional functionality thatmay be desirable for use in accordance with the various embodiments andaspects of the present invention.

As seen in FIG. 1, Mobile Valet device 20 includes a processor 24, astorage medium 30, a user input device 34, an output device 46, alocating device 64, and a communications device 74. Processor 24 is anyprogrammable electronic device known to those skilled in the art thatcan store, retrieve, and process data, such as a standard CMOS computerprocessor. Preferably, processor 24 includes an operating system 26resident in processor 24. Operating system 26 may be resident inprocessor 24 or in storage medium 30. Processor 24 is communicativelyconnected with storage medium 30 and can send and receive signals to andfrom storage medium 30. Processor 24 is also communicatively connectedwith output device 46 and user input device 34, wherein processor 24sends signals to output device 46 and processor 24 receives signals fromuser input device 34.

Storage medium 30 stores a mobile valet application 28 that promotes thedelivery of location-based services to a user within a givengeographical location 22. The geographical location 22 includes anylocation or a portion of any location which encompasses both the userand the mobile valet device 20, and can include locations such as astore, a warehouse, a building complex, an office complex, a bank, astadium, a golf course, a train station, a bus station, an airport, abeach, a park, a city, a state, or any other geographical location inwhich a user may wish to travel to. The mobile valet application 28generates a location-based menu 120 based on the geographical locationof a user, as illustrated in FIG. 7. Preferably, mobile valetapplication 28 resides on storage medium 30, as described above. Mobilevalet application 28 may be running on operating system 26. Mobile valetapplication 28 is communicatively connected with locating device 64 andcommunications device 74 and can send and receive signals to and fromlocating device 64 and communications device 74, as illustrated in FIG.1.

Processor 24 communicates and conveys information to the user on outputdevice 46. The contents of output device 46 may be controlled or alteredby mobile valet application 28 or operating system 26 eitherindividually or in combination. Output device 46 may be any device thatcan communicate and convey information to a user known by those skilledin the art, such as a video display screen 48, a speaker 54, and aprinter 60. Display screen 48 can include a local display screen 50 anda remote display screen 52, as illustrated in FIGS. 2-3. As used herein,local display screen 50 is a display screen that is mobile and thereforeis carried with the user, while a remote display screen 52 is stationaryand is not taken carried with the user.

Display screen 48 has a plurality of picture elements (collectivelyreferred to as a screen) that may define the appearance of mobile valetapplication 28, location-based menu 120, location based-service 122,general service menu 146, and any other object or text displayed ondisplay screen 48, as illustrated in FIGS. 5-8. Display screen 48 may bea cathode ray tube, a LCD screen, or any other means for allowing a userto see mobile valet application 28. Preferably, display screen 48comprises an LCD screen, since an LCD screen is lightweight, thin andtypically compact enough that a user can easily carry mobile valetdevice 20. Display screen 48 displays mobile valet application 28, asillustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12.

Referring again to FIG. 1, for obtaining input from a user, processor24, operating system 26, mobile valet application 28, communicationsdevice 74, and locating device 64 utilize at least one user input device34. User input device 34 may be used to designate areas of the displayscreen 48 by performing a pointing or selection operation on thoseareas. User input devices 34 may also be used to input characters whichmay in turn instruct at least one of processor 24, operating system 26,mobile valet application 28, communications device 74, and locatingdevice 64 to perform a task. User input device 34 includes any devicewhich can be used by a user to instruct at least one of processor 24,operating system 26, mobile valet application 28, communications device74, and locating device 64 to perform a task known by those skilled inthe art. User input device 34 includes such devices as a keyboard 36, abutton 38, a pointing device 40, a microphone 42, and a stylus 44.Pointing device 40 may include a mouse, a trackball, a touch pad, agraphics tablet, or other pointing devices known to those skilled in theart. Pointing device 40 allows a user to move a mouse pointer located indisplay screen 48 over an object located in display screen 40, to selectthat object. Stylus 44 can be used to input text and other informationand select objects on display screen 40. User input devices 34 may beused to input information, such as the name of an item or service thatneeds to be selected, into mobile valet application 28. In oneembodiment, user input devices 34 are used to select item alocation-based service 122, such as a general service 124 or a specificservice 126, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8.

As depicted in FIG. 1, communications device 74 is communicativelyconnected with a server 80 and the mobile valet application 28.Communications device 74 is any mobile device capable of sending andreceiving digital or analog message known by those skilled in the art,such as a mobile telephone, a radio wave transmitter and receiver, acellular transmitter and receiver, a BLUETOOTH™ equipped device, aninfrared transmitter and receiver, and a laser beam transmitter andreceiver. Server 80 is a computer that is designed to store informationand distribute information to a user upon receiving a request forinformation. Server 80 may be a remote server 76 or a local server 80,as shown. As used herein, a remote server 76 is a server that is outsidea given geographical location 22, while a local server is a server thatis within a certain geographical location 22, as illustrated in FIG. 3.Communications device 74 transmits a request signal 75 for informationby either a user or by the mobile valet application 28 to a server, suchas a remote server 76 or a local server 80, whereupon the server sendsback an information signal 94, which is then received by thecommunications device 74 and forwarded to the mobile valet application28. Preferably, communications device 74 uses an antenna 86 to transmitthe request signal 75 and receive the information signal 94, asillustrated in FIG. 2. Preferably, communications device 74 is portableand small enough such that the mobile valet device 20 can be held by auser 32. In one preferred embodiment, communications device 74 isphysically connected with a display screen 48 and a processor 24, inorder to make mobile valet device 20 portable. Signals sent and receivedby the devices described herein, such as transmitter signal 68, GPSsignal 72, request signal 75, information signal 94, sensing signal 95,and location signal 96, may include analog or digital signals.

Remote server 76 or local server 80 processes the information encodedwithin request signal 75 and generates information signal 94.Information signal 94 comprises information that can be used to generatelocation-based menu 120, general service menu, and locationbased-services 122. Server 80 transmits information signal 94 andcommunications device 74 receives information signal 94. Informationsignal 94 is then transmitted to mobile valet application 28, whereinmobile valet application 28 uses information signal 94 to generatelocation-based menu 120, general service menu, and locationbased-services 122.

In one preferred embodiment, mobile valet device 20 uses a web browserto access information stored within server 76. The web browser islocated within storage medium 30. A web browser is any application orprogram that can access information stored on the Internet, includingthe World Wide Web, the Usenet, Telnet, FTP sites, and other locationson the Internet. In one preferred embodiment, communications device 74communicates with remote server 76 through a web browser, and accessesthe information stored within server 76 using the web browser. In onepreferred embodiment, communications device 74 sends a request signal 75to server 76 using a web browser, and server 76 generates informationsignal 94 as a result.

A web-services architecture product such as eSpeak from Hewlett-PackardCorp., was used as the support platform for the Mobile Valet prototype.Alternatively, .NET, the Microsoft XML Web services platform, may beused, as well as other web services platforms. XML Web services allowapplications to communicate and share data over the Internet, regardlessof operating system, device, or programming language. The benefit ofsuch platforms are seamless, compelling experiences while using theMobile Valet.

While the above embodiments use communications device 74 and server 76and/or server 80 to retrieve information within an information signal 94that can be used to generate location-based menu 120, general servicemenu, and location based-services 122, in one preferred embodiment thisinformation is stored locally within mobile valet device 20 on storagemedium 30. The information can then be retrieved directly by mobilevalet application 28 and be used to generate location-based menu 120,general service menu, and location based-services 122.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, locating device 64 is communicativelyconnected with the mobile valet application 28. Locating device 64 isany device that can be used to determine the location of a user known bythose skilled in the art, such as but not limited to automatic locationidentifying devices (ALI's), GPS receivers, radio wave receivers,cellular receivers, laser beam receivers, and compasses. Upondetermining the location a user, transmitter generates a location signal96 and transmits the location signal 96 to the mobile valet application28. In one embodiment, locating device 64 determines the location of theuser by receiving transmitter signals 68 from a transmitter 66 and usesthe transmitter signals 68 received from the transmitter 66 to generatea location signal 96. Preferably, locating device 64 uses transmittersignals 68 to resolve the location of a user. In one embodiment,locating device 64 receives a global positioning satellite (GPS) signal72 from a global positioning satellite 70 and uses the GPS signal 72 toresolve a user's location and generate a location signal 96.

In one preferred embodiment, transmitter signals 68 are directionallyphase encoded enabling locating device 64 to resolve the relativelocation of a user using triangulation techniques. In one preferredembodiment, transmitter 66 is a local transmitter 67 located withingeographical location 22, as illustrated in FIG. 3. In one preferredembodiment, locating device 68 comprises a radio receiver that resolvesthe specific location of a user with respect to a set of localtransmitters 67. In yet another preferred embodiment, locating device 68comprises both a GPS receiver and a radio receiver that receivetransmitter signals 98 and GPS signals 72 to resolve the specificlocation and the general location of a user.

As used herein, the specific location of user 32 is the location of user32 accurate to within less than ten meters, and the general location ofa user is the location of a user accurate to within at least about tento 500 meters. Once locating device 64 resolves at least one of thegeneral location and the specific location of a user, locating device 64generates a location signal 96 and transmits the location signal 96detailing at least one of the general location and the specific locationto the mobile valet application 28, wherein the mobile valet application28 uses the information within the location signal 96 to generate alocation based-menu 120 with at least one location-based services 122.In one preferred embodiment, the location based-menu and thelocation-based services are continuously updated to correspond with thecurrent location of the user, as the user moves from one geographicallocation 22 to another geographical location 22. Internet basedgeographic location referencing systems are known in the art, such asdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,202,023 B1, issued to Hancock et al. onMar. 13, 2001.

In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, mobile valet device 20 includes asensing device 82 that is communicatively connected with mobile valetapplication 28. Sensing device 82 is any device capable of sensing asignal or element in the surroundings, such as a bar code, a radiotransmission, an infrared transmission, a BLUETOOTH™ signal, a laserbeam, or even an image, and generate a sensing signal 95 in response.Sensing device 82 is any device known by those skilled in the art thatis capable of sensing a signal or element, such as a bar code scanner90, a microphone 42, an infrared (IR) receiver 88, a video camera, and aradio frequency receiver. In one preferred embodiment, sensing device 82is a bar code scanner that senses and scans in a bar code 84 andgenerates a sensing signal 95 as a result.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate a mobile valet device 20 for deliveringlocation-based services to a user 32 within a specific geographicallocation 22, according to one preferred embodiment. Preferably, mobilevalet device 20 is a hand-held device that can be carried around by auser 32. However, mobile valet device 20 can be connected with a largerpiece of equipment or vehicle that can move around a geographicallocation with a user, such as a personal printer, a spectacle heads-updisplay, a shopping cart, an automobile, a bicycle, a caddy, or anyother movable vehicle or device known to one of ordinary skill in theart.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustration of methods, apparatus (systems) andcomputer program products according to the invention. It will beunderstood that each block of the flowchart illustration, andcombinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations, can beimplemented by computer program instructions. These computer programinstructions may be loaded onto a computer or other programmable dataprocessing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructionswhich execute on the computer or other programmable data processingapparatus create means for implementing the functions specified in theflowchart block or blocks. These computer program instructions may alsobe stored in a computer-readable storage medium 30 that can direct acomputer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function ina particular manner, such that the instructions stored in thecomputer-readable storage medium 30 produce an article of manufactureincluding instruction means which implement the function specified inthe flowchart block or blocks. The computer program instructions mayalso be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processingapparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on thecomputer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause aseries of operational steps to be performed on the computer or otherprogrammable apparatus to produce a computer implemented process suchthat the instructions which execute on the computer or otherprogrammable apparatus provide steps for implementing the functionsspecified in the flowchart block or blocks.

Accordingly, blocks of the flowchart illustrations support combinationsof means for performing the specified functions, combinations of stepsfor performing the specified functions and program instruction means forperforming the specified functions. It will also be understood that eachblock of the flowchart illustrations, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations, can be implemented by special purposehardware-based computer systems which perform the specified functions orsteps, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computerinstructions.

As seen in FIG. 4, a mobile valet application 28 is initiated in block99. The mobile valet application 28 generates a location-based menu 120or initiates a location-based service 122 based upon the location of auser. The mobile valet operation first determines the location of auser, as illustrated in block 100. The location of the user isdetermined by either using the location information within the locationsignal 96 generated by the locating device 64 or by using locationinformation that is located on a server 80. If the mobile valet device20 does not have a locating device 64 or if the locating device 64 isunable to generate a location signal 96, then the mobile valetapplication 28 will request location information from the server 80.Upon receiving the request for location information from the mobilevalet device 20, the server 80 will then retrieve the locationinformation from a database, or a look-up table, and transmit thelocation information to the communications device 74, whereupon thecommunications device 74 transmits the location information through aninformation signal 94 to the mobile valet application 28.

Upon receipt of the location information, the mobile valet application28 then generates a location-based menu 120 based on the location of theuser, as illustrated in block 102. In one embodiment, the mobile valetapplication 28 generates a request signal 75 for information andretrieves the information from within storage medium 30 to generatelocation-based menu 120. Request signal 75 includes locationinformation. In another embodiment, the mobile valet application 28generates a request signal 75 for information to the communicationsdevice 74, which in turn transmits the request signal 75 to the server80. Upon receipt of the request signal, the server 80 then generates aninformation signal 94 that is then received by communications device 74and transmitted to mobile valet application 28. Upon receipt of theinformation signal 94, the mobile valet application 28 generates alocation-based menu 120. In one preferred embodiment, the mobile valetapplication 28 generates a request signal 75 without receiving thelocation information from either the locating device 64 or the server80.

Location-based menu 120 is a menu of services based upon the location ofthe user. The location-based menu 120 provides at least onelocation-based service 122, depending on the location of the user, thatcan aid the user while in a particular geographical location 22. Forexample, if the user is in a retail outlet, such as a computer store,the mobile valet application 28 will generate a location-based menu 120with at least one location-based service 122, such as an informationservice 128 that is designed to aid the user while in the retail store.If the user is in a bank, the location-based menu 120 can generate alocation-based service 122, such as a withdrawal service (not shown)that may help the user withdraw funds from the bank. Location-basedservices 122 are designed to aid a user while in a certain location.

Location-based services 122 can include such services as an informationservice 128 for providing information such as information about acertain item with a store, the name of the store, or directions to adepartment within the store; a customer service 130 for providingassistance to the user for purchasing, returning or exchanging an item,for conducting a transaction, or for general customer service; adirections service 132 for providing directions to a place, to an itemwithin a store, to a store, for how to purchase an item, or how toconduct a transaction; a finance service 134 for providing financialassistance to a user who whishes to purchase an item; a warranty service136 for a user who wishes to obtain a warranty for an item within astore; a sales service 138 for a user who wishes to receives salesassistance for purchasing an item; a product comparison service 140 forcomparing a series of items or products within a store; a web-basedinformation service 142 for retrieving web based information for an itemwithin a store; and a help service 144 for helping a user conduct atransaction or purchase an item, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8.

Upon generating the location-based menu 120, a user then selects alocation-based service 122, as illustrated in block 104. Location-basedservices 122 include general services 124 and specific services 126. Theselection of a general service 124 generates a general service menu 146,while the selection of a specific service 126 begins that service. Forexample, the selection of general service 124 such as an informationservice 128, generates a general service menu 146 that includes specificservices such as a sales service 138, a product comparison service 140,and a web-based information service 142, as illustrated in FIG. 8.Selection of the specific service 126, such as product comparisonservice 140, begins the product comparison service 140, as illustratedin FIGS. 9-12.

Upon generating a location-based menu 120, having location-basedservices 122, the user selects a location-based service 122 using userinput device 34 and the mobile valet device performs the location-basedservice 122 that was selected, as illustrated in block 106. If the userselects a general service 124, then the mobile valet application 28 willgenerate a request signal 75 requesting additional information fromeither the server 80 or the storage medium 30, whereupon the server 80or the storage medium 30 generates an information signal 94 whichcontains general service information in response. Upon receiving theinformation signal 94 that contains general service information, themobile valet application 28 then generates a general service menu 146that contains location-based services 122, as illustrated in FIG. 8. Ifthe user selects a specific service 126, then the then the mobile valetapplication 28 will generate a request signal 75 requesting additionalinformation from either the server 80 or the storage medium 30,whereupon the server 80 or the storage medium 30 generates aninformation signal 94 which contains specific service information inresponse. Upon receiving the information signal 94 that containsspecific service information, the mobile valet application 28 thenbegins executing the specific service 126 that was selected, asillustrated in FIGS. 9-12. Upon performing the location-based service106, the mobile valet application 28 moves back to block 99, asillustrated in FIG. 4.

Mobile valet application 28 communicates information to the user throughan output device 46, such as a display screen 48, a speaker 54, or aprinter 60, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-3. Information can be anyinformation received from the server 80 or the storage medium 30.Information can be communicated to the user not only on output devices46 that are localized devices, such as local display screen 50 and localspeaker 56, but also on output device 46 that are remote devices, suchas remote display screen 52 and remote speaker 58. As used herein,localized devices, i.e., personal service channels, are devices that areon the user or travel with the user, and that do not require the use ofa communications device 74 in order to communicate information with.Such personal service channels are preferably packaged with the MobileValet device. As used herein, remote devices, i.e., location servicechannels or location channels, include devices that are located withingeographical location 22, but that do not move with the user, such as akiosk, or a localized display that is tied into the locations technologyinfrastructure. The location service channels may also include staffpersonnel at the location. Remote devices may require the use of acommunications device 74 in order to communicate with.

If certain information cannot properly or adequately be displayed orcommunicated to a user on a localized device, such as a local displayscreen 50 or a local speaker 56, mobile valet device 20 may transmit arequest through communications device 74 to display the information on alocation service channel, such as a remote display screen 52, asillustrated in FIG. 3, and in FIG. 12. Since the remote display screen52 may be larger than the local display screen 50, because the user doesnot have to move around with the remote display screen 52, the remotedisplay screen 52 may display more information than the local displayscreen 50, as illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12. Alternatively, mobilevalet device 20 can transmit the information through communicationsdevice 74 to a remote device, such as a remote speaker, which can bemuch larger than a local speaker, and therefore which can communicate alouder sound to the user. Likewise, the mobile valet device may transmitthe information directly to a remote printer 98 to print out informationobtained from a server. By utilizing remote devices, mobile valet device20 can communicate information more efficiently, more effectively andmore richly to the user.

Upon selecting a specific service 126, mobile valet device 120 canpresent the user the option to scan in a location item 98 located in ageographical location 22, as illustrated in FIG. 3. Location item 98 canbe any item with a geographical location 22, such as a product, or adisplay, a piece of furniture, and a work of art. Mobile valet device120 uses a sensing device 82 to sense a signal or scan an element. Forexample, a radio transmitter may be embedded in location item 98 thattransmits a signal received by sensing device 82, or a bar code 84 maybe placed on location item 98, whereupon sensing device 82 scans the barcode 84.

Upon scanning in a location item 98, sensing device then generates asensing signal 95 and transmits the sensing signal 95 to the mobilevalet application 28. Mobile valet application 28 may request sensingdevice 82 to generate a sensing signal 95 or sensing device 82 maygenerate a sensing signal 95 without receiving a request from mobilevalet application 28. Sensing signal 95 send information to mobile valetapplication 28 such as the name of a product, the price of a product,and the location of a product.

Upon receiving sensing signal 95, mobile valet application 28 maygenerate a location-based menu 120, or a location-based service 122,based upon the information in the sensing signal 95. In one embodiment,mobile valet application 28 generates a request signal 75 in response tothe sensing signal 95, and transmits the request signal 75 to the server80 through the communications device 74.

In one preferred embodiment, mobile valet application 28 generates apage view signal that is transmitted to the server 80 through thecommunications device 74. A page view signal can be generated inresponse to a number of actions. For example, a page view signal can begenerated by the mobile valet application 28 in response to receivingthe location signal 96 when a user enters a given geographical location.A page view signal can be generated in response to the receipt of asensing signal from the sensing device 82 by the mobile valetapplication 28. A page view signal can also be generated in response tothe generation of the request signal 75 by the mobile valet application28, wherein the request signal 75 request certain information from theremote server 76. In one embodiment, the page view signal is generatedby the server 76 in response to any signal received from the mobilevalet applications, such as the request signal 75.

The page view signal may be useful for tracking services requested by orservices received by the user. This information may be useful forupdating the user's profile, or the local service provider's demographicdatabase, or for compensating the local service provider. For example,the local service provider's support for assisting the user in decidingupon and completing a transaction, say for a purchase of a printer, maybe documented with this feature. Thus, even if the user completes thetransaction elsewhere, the local service provider is compensated for itscontribution to the decision-making process to led to a completedtransaction. In one embodiment, this information may be used by printermanufacturers to provide incentive to local service providers to provideenhanced service even though they do not complete the transaction withthe user.

In another example for making use of multiple location service channels,server 80 identifies a an available location service channel for amobile valet device 20 based upon the request signal 75 received by theserver 80 from the mobile valet device 20. Upon identifying a channel,the server then transmits information related to that channel to themobile valet device 20. For example, if the mobile valet device sends arequest signal 75 with information that indicates the mobile valetdevice 20 is in a grocery store, the server 80 may locate a display inthe produce department close to that particular mobile valet device 20,and transmit information of interest to the user, either identified bythe user or based on the user's profile, to that display.

Referring now to FIG. 13, a system is illustrated for using a mobiledevice to provide enhanced delivery of services available at a location.The system includes a distributed publicly accessible network 200, suchas the interne, providing a communications means for a plurality ofhard-wired and wireless devices. A mobile device 202 contains a mobilenode in communication with the network 200. The mobile device 202 is incommunication with a user database 204 that stores the mobile deviceuser's profile. The user database 204 may also store a number of otherinformation and user applications such as calendars, e-mail, news lists,etc. Such information may alternatively be stored in a memory storagedevice in the mobile device, as illustrated in FIG. 1.

Different categories of information in the user profile may havedifferent levels of privacy safeguards. For example, some informationmay be publicly accessible to all remote service providers, someinformation may be accessible only to the user's preferred remoteservice providers, other information may only be available to theaggregator server that manages access to the location service channels,other information may only be accessible to some or all of the localservice providers, and yet other information may be accessible only tothe user.

Location No. 1 (206), is a bank, and includes a local server 208 incommunication with the network, and four service channels 210 incommunication with the network. The service channels may be, forexample, ATMS, computer kiosks, printers, Bank tellers, wall-mountedpublic multi-media station, etc. Location No. 2 (212), is a computerstore, as described above, and includes a local server 214 incommunication with internet 200. The store 212 also includes fourservice channels 216 in communication with the internet 200. The servicechannels may be wirelessly connected directly to the internet, or may beconnected to the interne through the location-based server. The servicechannels may includes kiosks, printers, publicly available multimediadisplays, mobile devices for store personnel, etc. The location servers208 and 214 may also be local service providers. As such they need notbe physically located within each location, and may be considered as alocal service provider for all of the store locations operated by thelocal service provider.

Preferably, a number of remote service provider servers 220, 222 and 224are in communication with the interne 200, and accessible by the mobiledevice. The remote service providers may be the manufacturers or sellersof equipment in the store 212. The remote service provider may be aninterest rate quoting service that can provide competitive interest ratequotes, say for loans, while the mobile device user is in the bank 206.The remote service providers servers may access information in theuser's profile database along with real-time or historical contextualinformation about the user to determine appropriate services to provideto the user either through the user interface on the mobile deviceservice channel, or through a location service channel proximate to theuser.

Each location and the service channels therein are in communication withan aggregation server 226. The aggregation server 226 maintains aregistry of the locations 206 and 212, and the location service channels210 and 216 located therein on a registry database 228. The aggregationserver and associated database may be a system of distributed serversand databases.

The aggregation server may act as a central node managing the access tothe location service channels. For example, each location servicechannel may have a unique IP address, and the aggregation server 220routes the services provided from the remote service provider andredirects it to the selected location service channel appropriate to thetype of service being provided and optimizations of matches betweenusers and service providers.

The database 228 may also maintain a registry of remote serviceproviders and mobile device users. The local service providers mayprovide preferences, rules and restrictions on how the location servicechannels contained in its stores are used for delivery of services tothe mobile device users on its premises. For example, frequentcustomers, customers with strong interests in purchases, may havepriority access to the location service channels compared with othercustomers. The local service providers may also maintain databases (notshown) such as CRM (customer relationship management) systems thatincludes profiles about users and remotes service providers that theaggregation server 226 may access, or have information transmitted from.

Likewise, the mobile device users may also have preferences, rules andrestrictions stored on its profile data base 204 that is transmitted tothe aggregation server 226. These may includes lists of preferred remoteservice providers, excluded service providers, providers for whom theuser has pre-paid subscription with, and terms for one-time use paymentsthe user is willing to make for other remote service providers.

Likewise, the remote service providers may have preferences, rules andrestrictions as to how the services it presents to users is to bedelivered on the location service channels. The remote service providermy also include terms for payment bids that it would make for priorityaccess to the location service channels.

The aggregation server 226 balances the competing demands for servicesto be delivered on the location service channels, with the differentrules, preferences and restrictions of the different parties having aninterest in the service transaction. The database 228 is used to storethis information. Because, the number of location service channels in alocation is a scarce commodity, at times of high demand, the aggregationserver 228 may use optimization algorithms, such as are known in theart, programmed on computer-readable medium to make the location servicechannel available to the highest bidder consistent with the preferencesand restrictions imposed by the parties. The aggregation server may thencommunicate the payment terms and deposit account information, which areobtained from the parties' respective profile databases, to otherpayment servers that manage the monetary transactions associated withthe particular match between the user and service provider and anycommission or cut received by the local service provider.

The aggregation server 226 may maintain a cache in a memory storagedevice with a cue of mobile device users seeking services, and a cue ofremote service providers willing to provide such services. Theaggregations server may match up the remote service provider with theuser based on mutual interests stored in the user profiles and theremote server profiles. The mutual interest may include the amount ofmoney the user is willing to pay and the remote service provider iswilling to receive for providing services of interest to the user. Themutual interest may be an exchange of money in the other direction ifthe service provided will encourage the user to make a purchase ofproducts made by the remotes service provider and for sale at thelocation, or vice versa. Still, the proprietor of the aggregation servermay obtain the monetary benefit from the remote service provider as theagent of the remote service provider to “find” an appropriate user toreceive its services. The cache may also hold cues of matched serviceproviders and users waiting for service channels to become available.

The aggregation server 226 may also maintain a database of page viewsand interactions of users with service providers at specific locations.In conjunction with the location service providers reporting the user'stransactions with the local service providers' locations, theaggregation server may track a user's purchase on an item at onelocation with a prior service received at another location. Theaggregation server may then request a commission from the later localservice provider where the item was purchased to be paid to the priorlocal service provider allowed access to its location service channels.The desire for this arrangement is to encourage locations to invest inthe infrastructure for the location service channels if they can see arevenue stream generated even though the user decides to purchase theproducts else where after receiving services at the prior location.

From the foregoing description, one skilled in the art may appreciatethat the invention make take a variety of forms and may be performed ina variety of sequence by a variety of providers. For example, in anothermore generic sequence, one embodiment of the invention may occur asfollows: determine location of mobile device, present location-specificmenu of services on mobile device, user selects service, present serviceon mobile device, access user profile, identify available locationservice channels, select one or more available service channel, shiftservice to selected location service channel, request additionalservices through mobile device, present additional services on locationservice channel, access user profile, determine appropriate ancillaryservices, prompt location service provider to provide ancillaryservices, location-based staff present ancillary service to user, staffinput information into second mobile device, access user profile,complete transaction, location-based server terminates location servicechannel session to make available to second user.

Thus, there has been disclosed in accordance with the invention,methods, systems and apparatus for delivering location-based services toa user within a given geographical location that fully provides theadvantages set forth above. Although the invention has been describedand illustrated with reference to specific illustrative embodimentsthereof, it is not intended that the invention be limited to thoseillustrative embodiments. Those skilled in the art will recognize thatvariations and modifications can be made without departing from thespirit of the invention. It is therefore intended to include within theinvention all such variations and modifications that fall within thescope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A product comprising: a memory; instructionsstored in the memory that, when executed, cause a computer processor to:determine a current location of a mobile device; determine whether thecurrent location falls within one or more geographic regions defined ina database; and based on a determination that the current location fallswithin one or more of the geographic regions: identify servicesavailable within the one or more geographic regions that the currentlocation of the mobile device is determined to be within; determine aprioritization of the identified services based on a first criteria;select a subset of the identified services based on the prioritization;generate a customized menu based on the selected subset of identifiedservices; and display the customized menu on the mobile device.
 2. Theproduct of claim 1, wherein the instructions stored in the memoryfurther cause the computer processor to continuously determine whetherthe current location of the mobile device has changed to a new currentlocation.
 3. The product of claim 2, wherein the instructions stored onthe memory, when executed, further cause the processor to: identifywhether the new current location is a geographic region that is asub-region within a larger geographic region that has previously beenidentified and a customized menu provided; and update the customizedmenu based on the services available with the identified sub-region. 4.The product of claim 2, wherein, based on a determination that thecurrent location of the mobile device has changed to a new currentlocation, the instructions stored in the memory further cause thecomputer processor to: determine whether the new current location fallswithin one or more of the geographic regions defined in the database;and based on a determination that the new current location falls withinone or more of the geographic regions: identify services availablewithin the one or more geographic regions that the new current locationof the mobile device is determined to be within; update the customizedmenu based on the identified services available within the one or moregeographic regions that the new current location of the mobile device isdetermined to be within; and display the updated customized menu on themobile device.
 5. The product of claim 1, wherein the instructionsstored in the memory further cause the processor to: identify serviceproviders of the identified services.
 6. A system for providinglocation-based services, comprising: a computer processor; a memory incommunication with the computer processor, the memory comprising:instructions that, when executed, cause the computer processor to:determine a current location of a mobile device; determine whether thecurrent location falls within one or more geographic regions defined ina database; and based on a determination that the current location fallswithin one or more of the geographic regions: identify servicesavailable within the one or more geographic regions that the currentlocation of the mobile device is determined to be within; determine aprioritization of the identified services based on a first criteria;select a subset of the identified services based on the prioritization;generate a customized menu based on the selected subset of identifiedservices; and display the customized menu on the mobile device.
 7. Thesystem of claim 6, wherein the instructions further cause the computerprocessor to continuously determine whether the current location of themobile device has changed to a new current location.
 8. The system ofclaim 7, wherein the instructions stored on the memory, when executed,further cause the processor to: identify whether the new currentlocation is a geographic region that is a sub-region within a largergeographic region that has previously been identified and a customizedmenu provided; and update the customized menu based on the servicesavailable with the identified sub-region.
 9. The system of claim 7,wherein, based on a determination that the current location of themobile device has changed to a new current location, the instructionsfurther cause the computer processor to: determine whether the newcurrent location falls within one or more of the geographic regionsdefined in the database; and based on a determination that the newcurrent location falls within one or more of the geographic regions:identify services available within the one or more geographic regionsthat the new current location of the mobile device is determined to bewithin; update the customized menu based on the identified servicesavailable within the one or more geographic regions that the new currentlocation of the mobile device is determined to be within; and displaythe updated customized menu on the mobile device.
 10. The system ofclaim 6, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:identify service providers of the identified services.
 11. A method forproviding location-based services, comprising: determining a currentlocation of a mobile device; determining, using at least one computerprocessor, whether the current location falls within one or moregeographic regions defined in a database; and based on a determinationthat the current location falls within one or more of the geographicregions: identifying, using the at least one computer processor,services available within the one or more geographic regions that thecurrent location of the mobile device is determined to be within;determining a prioritization of the identified services based on a firstcriteria; and selecting a subset of the identified services based on theprioritization; generating, using the at least one computer processor, acustomized menu based on the selected subset of identified services; anddisplaying the customized menu on the mobile device.
 12. The method ofclaim 11, further comprising continuously determining whether thecurrent location of the mobile device has changed to a new currentlocation.
 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising: identifyingwhether the new current location is a geographic region that is asub-region within a larger geographic region that has previously beenidentified and a customized menu provided; and updating the customizedmenu based on the services available with the identified sub-region. 14.The method of claim 12, further comprising, based on a determinationthat the current location of the mobile device has changed to a newcurrent location: determining whether the new current location fallswithin one or more of the geographic regions defined in the database;and based on a determination that the new current location falls withinone or more of the geographic regions: identifying services availablewithin the one or more geographic regions that the new current locationof the mobile device is determined to be within; updating the customizedmenu based on the identified services available within the one or moregeographic regions that the new current location of the mobile device isdetermined to be within; and displaying the updated customized menu onthe mobile device.
 15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:identifying service providers of the identified services.
 16. A productcomprising: a memory; instructions stored in the memory that, whenexecuted, cause a computer processor to: determine a current location ofa mobile device; determine whether the current location falls within oneor more geographic regions defined in a database; based on adetermination that the current location falls within one or more of thegeographic regions: identify a first set of services available withinthe one or more geographic regions that the current location of themobile device is determined to be within; determine a prioritization ofthe identified first set of services based on a first criteria; select asubset of the identified first set of services based on theprioritization; generate a customized menu based on the selected subsetof the identified first set of services; and display the customized menuon the mobile device; continuously determine whether the currentlocation of the mobile device has changed to a new current location; andbased on a determination that the current location of the mobile devicehas changed to a new current location: determine whether the new currentlocation falls within one or more of the geographic regions defined inthe database; based on a determination that the new current locationfalls within one or more of the geographic regions: identify a secondset of services available within the one or more geographic regions thatthe new current location of the mobile device is determined to bewithin; determine a prioritization of the identified second set ofservices based on the first criteria; select a subset of the identifiedsecond set of services based on the prioritization; update thecustomized menu based on the selected subset of the identified secondset of services; and display the updated customized menu on the mobiledevice.
 17. The product of claim 16, wherein the memory furthercomprises instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause theprocessor to: identify whether the new current location is a geographicregion that is a sub-region within a larger geographic region that haspreviously been identified and a customized menu provided; and updatethe customized menu based on the services available with the identifiedsub-region.
 18. The product of claim 16, wherein the memory furthercomprises instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause theprocessor to: retrieve a profile of a user of the mobile device, andselect a customized menu based further on the retrieved user profile.19. The product of claim 18, wherein the memory further comprisesinstructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause the processor to:establish a task of the user based on the user's current location andthe user profile; and display a list of available services on the userinterface relevant to the established task.
 20. The product of claim 16,wherein the memory further comprises instructions stored thereon that,when executed, cause the processor to: identify the providers of theservices available in the first set of services.